Jerusalem: Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in as Israeli prime minister on Tuesday after winning parliamentary approval for his right-leaning government.

In a speech introducing his cabinet, Netanyahu assured Palestinians that peace with Israel was possible.

Netanyahu, whose right-wing Likud party emerged on top in coalition bargaining after a February 10 election, also hit out at Iran and "extremist Islam" for threatening Israel's existence.

"The greatest danger to humanity and our state of Israel stems from the possibility that a radical regime will arm itself with nuclear weapons," he said, in indirect reference to Iran.

Returning to power 10 years after he was voted out as prime minister, Netanyahu read out a cabinet list that included ultranationalist Avigdor Lieberman as foreign minister. His policies toward Israeli Arabs have stoked international concern.

Parliament backed the appointments by a vote of 69 to 45 with five abstentions, after a six-hour debate, and Netanyahu and fellow cabinet ministers then took the oath of office.

"I say to the Palestinian leadership that if you really want peace we can achieve peace," Netanyahu told a Knesset session interrupted by heckling from Arab and left-wing lawmakers.

He offered negotiations on "three parallel tracks, economic, security and diplomatic" with the Palestinian Authority.

While describing a final peace settlement under which Palestinians would run their own affairs, Netanyahu made no specific mention of establishing a Palestinian state -- a key demand of President Mahmoud Abbas and backed by Washington.

His coalition pact binding the various parties, however, contains a pledge to respect Israel's international agreements, a formula that includes accords on a Palestinian state.

"Under a permanent settlement the Palestinians will have all the necessary authority to rule themselves, except for those that would threaten Israel's existence and security," he said.

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Source : Reuters